Novel Hep C Strategy Aimed at Host Cells
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A New And Interesting Addition To The Hep C Clinical Pipeline
October 17, 2012
The race towards an interferon-free hepatitis C treatment continues to heat up, with a newcomer to the clinical pipeline – BioLine Rx’s (BLRX) BL-8020. The Israeli company, which in-licensed the drug earlier this year, announced that it had successfully completed the pre-clinical development of the anti Hep C drug, and that a phase I/II is planned to begin in Europe during the first quarter of 2013.
Unlike the vast majority of Hep C drugs under development, BL-8020 is not a protease or polymerase inhibitor. In fact, this drug doesn’t directly target the hepatitis virus at all, but instead, targets the host cell. BL-8020 inhibits a naturally occurring mechanism in the cell termed “autophagy”, which is used by the hepatitis C (and other viruses) for its replication process. This unique mechanism of action provides BioLine’s drug with several advantages:
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http://seekingalpha.com/article/929921-a-new-and-interesting-addition-to-the-hep-c-clinical-pipeline
